INTERPROVINCIAL NEWS.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 4248, 31 October 1874, Page 3

INTERPROVINCIAL NEWS.

MIDDLE ISLAND. OTAGO. Recent operations at the works of the Star of the East Quartz-mining Company, Garrick Ranges, resulted in the production of 1650z5. of gold from 158 tons of stone. A local journal reports that an earthquake, “short, sharp, and decisive,” passed under Queenstown- at twenty-five minutes past 3 o’clock on Sunday afternoon. The same shock appears to have been felt in other parts of the, dlstxict. The young perch obtained from Dunedin arrived at Queenstown by coach in splendid condition, and were at once turned out into the Acclimatisation waters, viz., in Silver Lake, otherwise known as Huff’s Lagoon. There we re sixteen, and the fish were in’ fine condition, if 1 liveliness and friskiness is to he taken as a sign. , It will be remembered, says the Times, that a month or two ago, a letter was received by the General Government from the French Government, intimating that permission had been granted to Captain Jacquemart, of the Yire, to accept the silver service presented to him by the Provincial Government of Otago as a mark of the appreciation by the people of the province of the services rendered by him on the occasion of the wreck of the ship Surat. Until his arrival here lately, Captain Jacquemart did not know that this permission had been granted. The presentation lias been forwarded to France, vie believe, so thaf some time will elapse before Captain Jacquemart will receive it. Mr. W. A. Murray, M.H.R. for Bruce (writes the Tokomairiro correspondent of the Times), called a meeting of his constituents in St. George’s Hall, on the 23rd inst. The meeting was very poorly attended, and there seemed to be but very little interest taken by those who did attend in the politics of the country, -or in the Acts passed by the late session. No questions were asked, and the whole affair went off in a wonderfully tame and quiet manner. The last Suez mail brought from the liquidators of the • Bank of Otago in London another pound per share to be paid to the shareholders, which now makes £8 10s. returned to shareholders out of £lO paid-up. Looking at the market value of the Bank of Otago shares in the years 1807 and ’6B, at very little over £4, shareholders ought to be well satisfied at the result of the liquidation. An accident of rather serious nature occurred on the 24th hist, to a miner named Pope, while working in the Otago Company’s claim, Blue Spur. It appears that a large block of cement struck the unfortunate man, instantly breaking one of his legs, and four ribs. Decidedly the most interesting case of the present civil sittings of the Supreme Court was commenced yesterday, says the Guardian of the 27th just. It was an action brought by Mr. George Dodson, of. the Empire Hotel, and late of the Refreshment Rooms, Port Chalmers railway station, against James Mac-, andrew, Esq., Superintendent, to recover the sura of £IOOO damages, for tort and breach of contract. The case arose out of the expulsion of Mr. Dodson from the refreshment room at Port Chalmers in January last, under circumstances that must be fresh in the recollection of our readers. Mr. Maoasaey and Mr. Stewart appeared for the plaintiff, and the defendant was represented by a very strong bar, viz., Messrs. Smith, Haggitt, and Stout. The learned counsel for the plaintiff, in opening his case to the jury, did not fail to take advantage of this by giving it as hia opinion that the defendant’s ease must he indeed a weak one when such an array of legal talent was required on its behalf. “In the multitude of counsellors there is wisdom,” said Mr. Macassey, “ but for all this I think that when you have heard the case you will give such substantial damages as will stop blundering Governments and circumlocutory offices from committing such vagaries in future.” [The case, the telegraph has informed us, fias ended in a verdict for the plaintiff, with £2OO damages.] ■

CANTERBURY. ' On the 20 th instant, a vehicle in which were four females, was standing at the Catholic Chapel, Barbadoes street, Christchurch, when the horse became frightened, bolted down the street, and proceeded along the South townbelt. After going some distance, the wheel got into a rut, the trap capsized, and the occupants were thrown out. One of the females was found to be seriously injured, and was taken to the Hospital ; the others escaped with a few bruises. There is now a reasonable prospect of the erection of the Cathedral being carried on witli vigor. The Select Committee (says the Lyttelton Times) have reported to the Synod. The committee find that Church property to the value of some £12,000 or £15,000 is now nnlet and unproductive. They recommend that a portion of this property should he sold to the amount of £IO,OOO, which should he devoted to Church purposes—£sooo towards the completion of the Cathedra], and £SOOO for the erection of churches and parsonages in country districts. The Synod will consider the report, and, if a healthier state of things is to he brought about, and an active interest roused in the public in church matters, the Synod will adopt the report and act upon it. It was reported yesterday, says the Press of the 29th October, that the men employed at work at the ballast pits on the Oxford railway, had struck for an advance of wages from Bs. fid. to 10s. a day. The contractor for Lake Ellesmere has at last accomplished his task, which, owing to the unfavorable weather of late, has been one of more than ordinary magnitude. Six or seven times has he succeeded in opening a course, which has each time been blocked up by the heavy surf occasioned by the south-west gales. The water from- the lake has at present taken complete possession, and runs out into the sea, defying the strength of the surfs and presents one of the grandest sights to he seen in this part of the province. NELSON. A hope is expressed bytheCWo/i isithat before many months are over the Nelson and Fox Hill Railway pill bp in working order. The earthwork is formed from between Stoke and Richmond to near Fox Hill, but the sleepers are not in place, and of course the rails are not laid. The former, however, are ready. There are two bridges in course of erection, one over the Wairoa River and the other over the Eighty-eight Valley. Creek. The Wairoa bridge is being rapidly proceeded with. It is a good substantial structure and will doubtless answer its purpose admirably. It is about 400 ft. in length by 20ft. broad. The Eightyeight Valley bridge is not so far advanced as the Wairoa, but several piles have been driven, and it is expected that it will be finished in a few months. The piles are all of ironhark imported from Newcastle, and a large portion of the other timber is birch and totara. There are no locomotives at work, but we understand that there is one on hoard the ship Chile. Messrs. Bray Bros, the contractors for that portion of the line between Stoke and Nelson, are proceeding with their contract, and wishing to take advantage of the fine weather, are advertising for additional men, in order to push on the works. Mr. O’Conor, at a public meeting held a few nights ago, gave a point-blank denial to the statement of the Evening Mail that Mr. George Hodgson, one of the clerks of the Provincial Government, had been removed in consequence of evidence he had given in opposition to him (Mr. O’Couor) in a case heard in the Resident Magistrate’s Court. In tins denial lie was supported by Mr. Albert Pitt, a member of the Executive Council. An earth-tremor' was felt, and a rumbling noise heard, at Stoke, a few mornings ago. At the Resident Magistrate’s Court, John Kelly, Edward Foran, and Francisco Lai, seamen on board the Craig Ewan, were charged with wilfully disobeying lawful commands. The offence having been proved, they were each sentenced to twelve weeks’ imprisonment. Another sailor, named Mariuie Mocassin!, for using threatening language towards the captain, was bound over in his own recognisance of £2O and two sureties of £lO each, to keep the peace for six mouths.